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Saturday, February 19, 2011

Not that I don't think texting while driving is a bad thing, but I'm willing to bet that the majority of the people that have these wrecks are not mothers. And not talking on the cell phone while driving, well that's just ridicious. That's the only time I can carry on a conversation.

If we as society were really concerned about distracted driving, cars would come equipped with those glass windows like limos or at the least the divider thing that's in police cars. Where am I going with this? I'll get there I promise.

First I did a little research.

What is categorized as Distracted Driving? Well I wanted to know so...it Googled it. And I found this.

There are three main types of distraction:

•Visual — taking your eyes off the road

•Manual — taking your hands off the wheel

•Cognitive — taking your mind off what you’re doing

While all distractions can endanger drivers’ safety, texting is the most alarming because it involves all three types of distraction. I'll agree with that. But I really wouldn't know because my antique cell phone doesn't allow me to text just receive texts.

So I'm wondering what they consider distracting. Here's what I found.Other distracting activities include:

•Using a cell phone-again the only time I can have a decent conversion

•Eating and drinking-alcohol, I'll agree with, but other than that what do you think the cup holders are for.

•Talking to passengers-yelling, maybe, but I'll get to that.

•Grooming- I used to put makeup on & take out my rollers on the way to class in college, but not now.

•Reading, including maps-Does that include homework?

•Using a PDA or navigation system-I have an annoying chic in my car that tells me where I'm going.•Watching a video-I can't seen the screen from the driver's seat, but the one in the front will only play when the car is in park. Buzzkill.

•Changing the radio station, CD, or Mp3 player-My car's so souped up, I can change the station on the steering wheel & I don't know how to hook up the Ipod.

That was their list (the red writing was my commentary). On that list was there ANY mention of children? And they could fit almost every category.*Eating and drinking- I have to pass around food & drink all the time. Just getting into my car somehow turns my children into starving little beasts. And if have a drink, they are thirsting to death & must have a swallow.•Talking to passengers- or like I said yelling, referring fights, Baby Girl refuses to stay in her carseat, so I'm constantly threatening her. Or spanking her. Yep, riding down the road while she's in the back.•Grooming- I don't do this, but I have been asked to tie shoes, help with clothing, fix hair.

•Reading, including maps- I help with homework, study for tests, call out spelling words & read what "this word says".•Watching a video- I can't seen the screen from the driver's seat, but I'm supposed to know which episode is on & where the one they want to watch is & when it's coming on. •Changing the radio station, CD, or Mp3 player- That's really not a problem, where the problem lays with what we are going to watch or listen.

My children are off-the-chain in normal circumstances, but I don't know why, some days when they get into my car they act like they have no home-training whatsoever. The other day Baby Girl hit me in the head with an umbrella.

So where can I sign up to ban driving with children? Come on, Oprah. But she doesn't have kids so she wouldn't understand. Maybe I should talk to the chics over at the "The Talk". As wild as Sharon Osborne's children are/were, she bound to understand.

That was their list (the red writing was my commentary). On that list was there ANY mention of children? And they could fit almost every category.

My daughter used to "distract" me while I was backing the car up or in heavy traffic. I finally made THE rule: when mom is behind the wheel and the car is moving.....do not say anything unless you're going to throw up!It worked and now she is a driver herself; with the same rule! She's not a mom but it applies to her brother and passengers.

I did learn the hard way that while I can drive, dial the cell, hand a sippy cup to the back seat and make a right turn, that if I try to do all of those at the same time, I will side-swipe a telephone pole! The good news (or irony) is that I was calling my attorney, so he met me at the house, lent me his spare car, and took mine to "a guy" he knew to fix. All was well! My point being I hear you and I agree!

Seriously!!!! Driving with kids has to be way more distracting than talking on a cell phone while driving. If I'm not desperately trying to find a certain song on my iPod for them, I'm trying to hurl sippy cups to them because they're "dying of thirst".

Oh and the fighting....the fighting is enough to make me want to run a stop sign for the sake of getting arrested and being able to sit in a jail cell all by my lonesome.

Wait until the teen and tween years hit...are you there yet? Each girl has her own MP3 complete with earbuds...nice....not really when they are both singing two different songs at the same time. And the boy is asking random questions at incredible speed. I vote for the limo separation. As it provides a silencer. Nice. The police version is a cage, and while that would be nice to see them caged for a time, it wouldn't block the noise. LOL. I love this post!

I so agree! I find myself telling my kids over and over again "you do realize I am driving the car!". I don't think they really get it. They want me to "look" at them all the time. And they do not do this with their father. He doesn't even have to listen to their music. I don't get it!!!

As usual, you made me LOL w/ this post. I can't ever do my makeup/talk on the phone/text while I drive...because I'm too distracted by picking up Pretty Little Bare Feet's "lovey," who is supposed to ride w/in her reach on the back of the front passenger seat; or passing a drink back while she passes a food item up. She thinks I have to hold one while she consumes the other, & then trade back. & I feel ya on the threatening while driving after the carseat has been escaped from...I'm apparently pretty scary, though, because she hasn't pulled that stunt in quite some time. (Although I am sure that she can still do it!)